On-line sampling from a process source
AssigneeWaters Technologies Corporation
InventorSylvain Cormier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An online sample manager of a liquid chromatography system includes a fluidic tee having a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an outlet port. A diluent pump moves diluent from a diluent source to the first inlet port of the fluidic tee. A valve has a fluidic intake port connected to a process source for acquiring a process sample therefrom. A pumping system moves the acquired process sample from the valve into the second inlet port of the fluidic tee where the process sample merges with the diluent arriving at the first inlet port to produce a diluted process sample that flows out from the outlet port of the fluidic tee.
Claims12
An online sample manager of a liquid chromatography system, comprising:
- a fluidic tee having a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an outlet port;
- a diluent pump in fluidic communication with a diluent source and the first inlet port of the fluidic tee;
- a process-selection valve having an intake port in fluidic communication with a process line to receive a process sample therefrom and having an outlet port;
- a process sample pump in fluidic communication with the outlet port of the process-selection valve and the second inlet port of the fluidic tee, the process sample pump configured to move an acquired process sample into the second inlet port of the fluidic tee while the diluent pump is moving the diluent into the first inlet port of the fluidic tee such that the process sample and the diluent are in the fluidic tee at a same time and merge to produce a diluted process sample that flows out from the outlet port of the fluidic tee;
- an injection valve having a first injection valve port in fluidic communication with the outlet port of the fluidic tee to receive the diluted process sample therefrom, a second injection valve port in fluidic communication with a solvent delivery system to receive a solvent composition stream therefrom, a third injection valve port and a fourth injection valve port;
- and
- a sample loop configured to store the diluted process sample and having one end directly coupled to the third injection valve port and an opposite end directly coupled to the fourth injection valve port.
An online sample manager of a liquid chromatography system, comprising:
- a fluidic tee having a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an outlet port;
- a diluent pump in fluidic communication with a diluent source and the first inlet port of the fluidic tee;
- a process-selection valve in fluidic communication with a process line and having a fluidic intake port in fluidic communication with the process line to receive a process sample therefrom and having an outlet port;
- a process sample pump in fluidic communication with the outlet port of the process-selection valve and the second inlet port of the fluidic tee, the process sample pump configured to move an acquired process sample into the second inlet port of the fluidic tee while the diluent pump is moving the diluent into the first inlet port of the fluidic tee such that the process sample and the diluent are in the fluidic tee at a same time and merge to produce a diluted process sample that flows out from the outlet port of the fluidic tee;
- an injection valve having a plurality of injection valve ports, a first one of the injection valve ports being in fluidic communication with the outlet port of the fluidic tee to receive the diluted process sample therefrom;
- a sample loop configured to store the diluted process sample and having one end directly coupled to a second one of the injection valve ports and an opposite end directly coupled to a third one of the injection valve ports;
- a solvent manager comprising at least one pump in direct fluidic communication with the injection valve at a fourth one of the injection valve ports to deliver a solvent composition stream to the injection valve;
- and
- a chromatographic column in direct fluidic communication with the injection valve at a fifth one of the injection valve ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.